Aretha Franklin

Released: March 10, 1967

Songwriter: Ted White Aretha Franklin

Producer: Jerry Wexler

[Verse 1]
If I lose this dream (This dream)
I don't know what I'm going to do
If I lose this dream (This dream)
I'm dreaming about for me and you

[Bridge]
If it goes away I might as well hang it up
'Cause I don't know
If I have the heart or mind
To make it true, to help it grow
And I only know, I only know, I only know

[Verse 2]
If I lose this dream (This dream)
It's goodbye love and happiness, yes
You're the one I need
I don't want a love that's second best

[Bridge]
There've been things all of my life
I wanted to do that made me blue
Help me hold onto this dream
For sometimes dreams often come true
And they all come true, they all come true
For me and you
(Wait a minute, baby)

[Chorus]
Don't let me lose this dream
Baby, baby, hold on
Don't let me lose my dream
Baby, baby, be strong

[Verse 3]
You say that, uh, you believe that what I say is true
And that I'm the one and only girl for you
Just tell me that no matter what the people say
You're in my corner all the way

[Chorus]
And I won't let me lose this dream
Baby, baby, hold on
Don't let me lose my dream
Baby, baby, be strong
Don't me, ooh baby
Baby, baby, hold on

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

more tracks from the album

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

From the album

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (1967)

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Don’t Let Me Lose This DreamAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You